Radiator core



F. A. NEVEU Aug. 17, 1937.

Filed April 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet fizvezzfor FA.. VeVez1 Aug. 17, 1937. EV 2,090,222

RADIATOR CORE Filed April 20, 19:55 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizz enfor 7 'AZ.A/'ez e11 Z A f/orzzgy.

Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to heat-interchanging devices, and more particularly to radiators of the type commonly used upon automotive vehicles to cool the water used in the circulatory cooling systems thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a radiator core construction comprising tube and fin or spacing members arranged in cooperative relationship and provided with novel means 10 for inducing a large amount of turbulence in the many streams of air flowing through the core, without, however, impeding the flow to any material extent, and in this manner effecting an increase in the amount of heat which is transmitted from the tube and fin members to the air.

A more detailed object in this connection; is to provide obliquely running beads, preferably of relatively little altitude, in the metal of which the tube members or the fin members, or both of them, are formed, thus causing a multiplicity of shoulders to project from the otherwise relatively smooth walls of the air passages of the core, into the many streams of air flowing therethrough. By so arranging the fin and tube members having these oblique beads therein, that the beads on opposite walls of each air passage are of opposite inclination, a spiral or twisting motion is imparted to each of the air streams, thus inducing the turbulence therein which is so effective in enhancing the capability of the air to absorb heat from the metal against which it impinges. However, the turbulence thus produced is not of such a nature or of such a degree that either the volume or rate of flow of air through the core is seriously interfered with, and this is also a feature which makes for further efficiency of heat dissemination by the core.

It is a still further object of the present invention to adapt the above described principle involving the use of obliquely running beads to the plates of each of the water tube members of a radiator core, in such a manner that a novel type of construction of tube member is provided, which tube member, in addition to being more efficient in cooling, is possessed of advantages in respect of strength and rigidity, and consequently is more durable than water tube members constructed along more conventional lines, and yet which is simple and relatively inexpensive to form and assemble.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the inventions particular embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred forms within the scope of my invention, as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fragment of a radiator core embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view showing a portion of one of the spacing or radiating fins of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed View in front elevation showing a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, the direction of View being indicated by the arrow 3 of that figure.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating a slightly modified form of my invention.

In terms of broad inclusion, the present invention contemplates the improvement of a radiator core in the formof a multiplicity of shoulders formed in the metal parts of the core, which shoulders extend obliquely with respect to the direction of flow of air through the core and project, preferably for a relatively short distance into the streams of air. Moreover, the shoulders thus provided upon opposite sides of each of the many air streams are at opposite angularity, i, e., if the shoulders on one side of an air stream slope toward the rear of the radiator and downwards, those on the opposite side of that same air stream slope towards the rear and upwards, the result being that although the shoulders project for such a. short distance into the air stream that the volume and/ or rate of flow is not interfered with to any material extent, these obliquely disposed shoulders impart a spiral or twisting motion to each of the air streams, and thus have been found to induce a degree of turbulence to the air streams, resulting in an increased efficiency of heat absorption by the air from the metal parts of the core.

Preferably these oblique shoulders are provided through the expedient of relatively shallow beads or channels pressed into the metal of which the core elements are formed. These beads or channels are preferably so small that they do not interfere with the deforming of the metal to the desired shape to produce whichever of the constituent elements of the core is being manufactured, i. e., each of the fin or spacing members may be constructed according to any preferred design, but should carry the additional feature of the oblique shoulders which enhance the efliciency of that selected design in the manner mentioned hereinabove.

For example, Figure 1 shows my invention embodied in a radiator core ll of well known design, which core comprises a plurality of water tube members l2 disposed in spaced parallel relation to provide air spaces l3 therebetween, and preferably a plurality of spacing fins |4 interposed between each two adjacent tube members l2. Each of these tube members l2 comprises a pair of juxtaposed plates l6 and I1 having corrugations |8 extending transversely thereof. The corrugations |8-of both plates l6 and I1 rest into each other at both ends of the corrugations, i. e., along both longitudinal edges IQ of the plates I6 and I1. However, those corrugations ll! of each plate, the crests of which point toward and fit into the valleys between crests of the other plate, are flattened as at 2|,

these flattened portions, however, being shorter.

than the width of the plates so that where these i crests are not flattened, they fit snugly into and make water-tight connection with a concave portion or valley of the cooperating plate. These flattened portions 2| of both plates l6 and I1 cooperate to define a water passage 22- as clearly shown on Figures 1 and 3, through which water can flow longitudinally of the radiator, i. e., from one header tank to the other, these heade v tanks not being illustrated.

As a result of this construction, each of the water tube members I2 is in the form of a corrugated strip of metal of double thickness, the two thicknesses being closely adjacent eachother 3' at the forward and after faces of the core but being spaced from each other intermediate the edges to define the water passage 22.

The form of fin |4 usually adopted for use in conjunction with tube member I2 is a strip 40 of metal corresponding in width to the water tubes and having corrugations 26. extending transversely thereof, these corrugations 26 preferably corresponding in general shape and size to the corrugations l8 which are. formed in the tube members [2. Preferably a plurality of such fins M are interposed between each two adjacent tube members and are so arranged that the crests 21 of each fin abut against the crests of the member immediately there adjacent. In this manner, a multiplicity of substantially tubularair cells 21 extending transversely through the core II are formed, each of these air cells being defined by the hollow sides of the corrugations of the two associated members, which members may be either two adjacent fin members 4, or a fin member I4 andthe tube member |2 there adjacent.

- The present invention contemplates improving the efficiency of core constructions by deforming 0 the metal of which the fins l4 and tube members |2 are formed, in addition to the formation of the corrugations hereinabove described. This additional deformation consists of providing obliquely running shoulders 3| which project into the air cells 21 soas to engage the streams of air flowing therethrough. These shoulders 3| can consequently be provided by forming relatively small corrugations 32 in the metal of which the fin and/or tube members are later to be formed, these corrugations extending obliquely, as best shown upon Figures 2 and 3. Preferably, however, the corrugations 32 are smaller than the corrugations l8 and 26, which determine the principal position of the characteristic shape of .75 the tube and fin members l2 and. I4, respectively.

Because of the relatively slight height of these corrugations 32 and the shoulders 3| thus presented by the crests of these minor corrugations 32, they interfere to a relatively slight extent with the flow of air through the air passages 21. However, they project far enough into the air passages to cause a material proportion of the air of each air stream to impinge thereagainst and be deflected from its normally straight course through the core either upwards or downwards, 10 depending upon the direction of the shoulder 3| with which it comes in contact. Moreover the parts are so arranged that the shoulders 31 on one side of each passage 21 are of an angularity opposite to that of the shoulders on the opposite 15 side of that air passage; that is to say, if the shoulders 3| on-one side of a certain air passage 2'! incline toward the after face of the core and upwards, then the shoulders 3| on the opposite side of that same air cell incline toward the after 20 face of the core and downwards. This is most easily accomplished when assembling the core by selecting the constituent elements thereof so that each alternate strip of metal, whether it be a fin, or one of the plates of a tube member, has the shoulders 3| thereof of opposite angularity from that of the shoulders 3| of the element previously placed in the assembly. Consequently, in each of the air streams traversing the core, those portions of the air stream on 3 one side thereof have a downward motion imparted thereto as they move toward the rear of the core, whereas, those portions of air on the opposite side of that air stream have an upward motion imparted thereto. This induces a spiral .5 or twisting motion to each of the many air streams, which has been found to break up the otherwise smooth flow of the air through the core to an extent which materially increases the capability of the moving air to absorb from the 40 walls of the tube members |2 and from the radiating fins l4, it being understood, of course, that these metal parts of the core have absorbed heat from thewater' flowing through the water passages 22, in accordance with conventional prac- 45 tice. Figure 4 shows a modified form of my invention in the form of a core 4|, the spacing fins 42 of which are preferably similar to those of the previously described modification. Whereas, by a bi) single spacing fin 42 is shown interposed between each two adjacent tube members 43, it should be understood that a plurality of fins could be em-, ployed in each air space 44 if desired. Each of the water tube members 43 of this modification so comprises a pair of opposed plates 46 and 41 fiat and in abutment with each other along their forward and after edges 48 and 49, respectively, by having beads or corrugations 5| projecting outwards from their outer faces intermediate the edges 48 and 49. The corrugations 5| of the two plates 46 and 41 are of opposite angularity, the result being that the hollows or valleys 52 defined by the concave side of each corrugation 5|, of each of the plates intersect the hollows 52 of the as- 65 sociated plate; In this manner, the water flowing between the two plates 46 and 41 is divided into several relatively small streams, each of which must pursue a zig-zag course as it flows longi-. tudinally of the core. This course is zig-zag in -7 0 two directions, i. e., first toward the front and then toward the rear of the radiator, and so on, and also first toward one'side and then toward the other side of the radiator, and so on, because each particle ofv water must first flow into a valley '25 52 in one of the plates 46, moving as it does so toward one side of the radiator, and after it has entered that valley 52 being deflected toward the rear of the core. Then that particle must enter a valley 52 of the other plate, requiring that the particle move toward the other side of the radiator, and then after entering that valley, being deflected toward the front of the core. This tortuous course through which each particle of water is required to flow results in positive impingement of each particle many times against the side walls of the passage, thereby insuring the transmission of the maximum amount of heat which the water carries, to the metal of the core. Whereas, Figure 4 illustrates the plates 46 and ll, so constructed that the bases 56 between corrugations 5| are substantially in line with the fiat edges 48 and 49, thereby causing abutment of the two plates 46 and 41, not only along the straight edges 48 and 49, but also wherever the bases 56 of one plate intersect those of the other, it should be understood that the bases might be set out slightly from the plane of the flat edges of the associated plate, thereby separating the bases of one plate slightly from those of the other plate and increasing to a material extent the capacity of each water tube member, without seriously interfering with the tortuous nature of the path which each particle of water is required to pursue as it traverses one of the water passages. Moreover, corresponding plates, say the plates d6, of all tube members should have their corrugations 5| of the same angularity, in the event that but a single spacing fin 42 is employed between each two adjacent tube members. This will result in the same advantageous arrangement of oblique shoulders extending through the air cells iii, wherein the shoulders on one side of each air cell are of opposite angularity from those on the opposite side of that air cell. This causes the air stream in each air cell to have the spiral motion.

I claim:

1. In a radiator, a heat-transferring core comprising a plurality of water tube members spaced apart to define air passages therebetween, and fin members disposed in said passages and corrugated transversely to divide said passages into a plurality of air cells, the corrugations of each of said members having obliquely running beads protruding from the walls thereof and the beads of each two adjacent members being oppositely inclined whereby the beads upon opposite Walls of each of said cells impart a spiral motion to air moving therethrough.

2. In a radiator core, a plurality of tube members, and spacing fin disposed between each two adjacent tube members and corrugated to define a plurality of air passages in each space between tube members, and means on said tube members and fin presenting obliquely running shoulders projecting into said air passages, the shoulders on opposite sides of each passage being of opposite angularity whereby a spiral motion is imparted to the stream of air traversing each passage.

3. In a radiator core, a plurality of plates disposed in spaced, parallel relation, to define fluid passages therebetween, said plates having two sets of deformations therein, one of said sets comprising corrugations extending transversely of said plates, and the other of said sets comprising beads formed in the walls of said corrugations and extending obliquely with respect thereto.

4. In a radiator core, a plurality of plates disposed in spaced, parallel relation, to define fluid passages therebetween, said plates having two sets of deformations therein, one of said sets comprising corrugations extending transversely of said plates, and the other of said sets comprising beads formed in the walls of said corrugations and extending obliquely with respect thereto, the beads on opposite sides of each of said fluid passages being oppositely inclined whereby a spiral motion is imparted to fluid moving through said passages.

5. In a radiator core, means providing water passages and means providing air passages extending thereacross, said means being of corrugated form to provide a cellular construction with the cells thereof presenting said air passages and the walls of the corrugations defining said cells having beads protruding into said cells and extending obliquely With respect to the longitudinal axes of said cells to impart turbulence to air traversing said cells.

6. In a radiator core, means providing water passages and means providing air passages extending thereacross, said means being of corrugated form to provide a cellular construction with the cells thereof presenting said air passages, and the Walls of the corrugations defining said cells having beads protruding into said cells and extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axes of said cells and the beads on opposite sides of each of said cells being of opposite inclination to impart a spiral motion to air traversing the cells.

FRANK A. NEVEU. 

